November/December 1994, Pages 61-62

Arab American Activism

By Richard H. Curtiss

Candace Lightner to Head ADC

Candace Lightner, founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), is the new president of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC). She has served on the ADC advisory board and on the board of the National Association of Arab Americans (NAAA). In the past she has received ADC's "Alex Odeh Humanitarian Award" and "Outstanding Vision and Leadership Award."

Ms. Lightner founded MADD in 1980 after her daughter, Carime Anne Lightner, was killed by a drunk driver. Carime was named after Ms. Lightner's mother, whose family came to the U.S. from Lebanon's Bekaa Valley early in the 20th century. Ms. Lightner built MADD into an international organization comprising 377 chapters in less than three years. Her efforts with the organization led to the successful passage of more than 500 bills at the state and national levels, including legislation raising the drinking age to 21, a move credited with saving thousands of lives.

In announcing her selection, ADC's founder and board chairman, former Senator James Abourezk, predicted Ms. Lightner "will bring a new perspective to our organization, which has served the Arab American community for 14 years."

Her predecessor, Albert Mokhiber, who has worked for 10 years at ADC, six as head of the legal department and four as president, will remain at ADC for a transition period. He is resuming private law practice in the Washington, DC area, Abourezk said.

Birzeit Society Convention

More than 600 persons attended the second national convention of the Birzeit Society, Aug. 4 through 7 in Reston, Virginia, hosted by the society's Washington, DC chapter. The society, composed of Americans who trace their roots to the West Bank university town of Birzeit, held its first convention two years ago in San Francisco. Its 1996 convention will be in Los Angeles, and its fourth convention is scheduled for 1998 in Birzeit, Palestine.

The convention included a tour of Washington, ending with a White House briefing, three panel discussions on economic, political and social issues, an evening of Arabic music and dancing, an evening banquet addressed by Palestinian human rights activist Hanan Ashrawi, and a Sunday picnic. Special programs were held for small children and for teenagers during the panel discussions and banquet. Further information on the society and its several local chapters is obtainable from Samir M. Khoury, 12631 E. Imperial Hwy., Building F, Suite 124, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670-4710, telephone (310) 868-8266.

Arab Americans Discuss Lebanon Travel Ban With Robert Pelletreau

Asst. Sec. of State for Near East Affairs Robert Pelletreau and Juan Alsace of the State Department's Lebanon desk met Aug. 22 with Arab-American organizations to discuss their request that the ban on travel to Lebanon by U.S. citizens be lifted. Pelletreau told them that security remains a concern. The Arab-American representatives responded that 40,000 Americans traveled to Lebanon last year without incident.

Following the meeting, representatives of ADC, the American Task Force for Lebanon (ATFL), NAAA, Save Lebanon, the Association of Arab-American University Graduates, and the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce met with the press.

ADC and the ATFL also held a press conference protesting the renewal on Aug. 31, for the eighth year, of the travel ban.

However, support for the State Department position was voiced by the Council of Lebanese-American Organizations, a Michigan-based group, which said events in Lebanon "continue to show that Lebanon is still a dangerous place." American Task Force spokesmen responded that this no longer is true because both the Lebanese and Syrian governments have warned extremist groups they will be "annihilated" if they molest foreigners.

A Call for Palestine Elections

Representatives of major Arab-American organizations released a resolution in support of free and democratic elections in Palestine at an Oct. 5 press conference at the National Press Club. The resolution calls upon the Palestinian leadership "to honor its commitment to hold free and democratic elections throughout Palestine" no later than Dec. 31, 1994, and to provide guarantees that will insure respect for basic human rights, including freedom of speech and assembly.

It also calls upon the Israeli government to comply with U.N. Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 to "end its occupation of all of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem." The resolution also urges the governments of the United States and Russia, as sponsors of the peace process, to mobilize the resources of the international community in support of Palestinian elections.

PLO Representative Meets Press

The Foreign Correspondents Association hosted a Sept. 22 press conference with Hassan Abdulrahman, PLO representative in the U.S. national capital, to discuss the one-year-old Oslo agreement at the Washington offices of the National Association of Arab Americans.

"The peace is holding," Abdulrahman said. "There is a new environment in the region." While noting that much of the Oslo accord had been implemented, he criticized Israel for stalling on elections for the Palestinian self-government council in an attempt to delay redeployment of Israeli troops from the still-occupied portions of the West Bank. The agreement specifies Israel must withdraw before Palestinian elections, which already are overdue.

The delay in elections is jeopardizing private investment in the territories, according to the PLO representative, who also warned of mounting political tensions.

"If you make political participation impossible, you make violent revolution inevitable," he said. He also voiced Palestinian concerns about curtailed access to East Jerusalem, explaining that "exclusive Israeli sovereignty over both East and West Jerusalem is unacceptable."

Information on the Foreign Correspondents Association can be obtained from its president, Abdulsalam Y. Massarueh, P.O. Box 185, Washington, DC 20044-0185, telephone (703) 591-0677.

Palestine Aid Society Convention

The Palestine Aid Society of America (PAS) held its Eighth national convention at the Radisson Hotel in Philadelphia Sept. 2 to 4. PAS President George Zahr noted that the fact that the convention was held one year after the signing of the Declaration of Principles between the PLO and the Israeli government "makes this convention one of our most important to date."

Speakers included Dr. Naseer Aruri of the PLO Central Committee, Dr. Sara Roy of Harvard University's Middle Eastern Studies Center, Ms. Laila Zacharia of Association Najdeh in Lebanon, former PLO Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Dr. Riyad Mansour, and Abdeen Jabara, vice chairman of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC).

Founded in 1978, PAS has raised funds to support projects in the Israeli-Occupied Territories and in Lebanon. The organization, which also works to promote a better understanding of Palestinian culture, history and politics, has chapters throughout the United States and has a sister organization in Canada. For further information contact PAS at 2025 Eye St. NW, Suite 1020, Washington DC 20006.

AAI Hosts Egyptian Foreign Minister

At a Sept. 22 luncheon at Washington, DC's Hay Adams Hotel hosted by the Arab American Institute, Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa discussed "Recent Developments in the Middle East."

"We are all for a comprehensive peace," Moussa asserted, adding that steady progress was being made in Palestinian and Jordanian talks with Israel, and that progress in talks with Syria could be expected soon. The foreign minister called on the Israeli government to explain to its citizens that peace with Palestinians "is in their best interest," and said that Palestinian elections should be held within two or three months. For further information contact AAI at 918 16th St. NW, Suite 601, Washington, DC 20006.

Arab Arts Festival in New York

The Arab-American community of the New York metropolitan area observed a "Mahrajan Al-Fan," a festival of art hosted by the Brooklyn Museum of New York, to promote Arab culture and recognize outstanding Arab performers and artists. The Sept. 11 festival was attended by more than 1,700 people. Performers included musicians Simon Shaheen and Jihad Racy, Ibrahim Farah's dance group, poet Yousef Abdel Samad, storytellers Inea Bushnaq and Sally Bahous, and artist Samia Halabi. The Palestinian Heritage Foundation, founded by Farah and Hanan Karaman Munayyer, participated with a show of traditional Palestinian and Syrian dress. The foundation's address is P.O.Box 1018, West Caldwell, NJ 07006, telephone (201) 575-8648.